Nicotine e-vaping device

ABSTRACT

A reservoir assembly that holds a nicotine pre-vapor formulation in a reservoir includes a reservoir assembly connector assembly defining a connector conduit, and which may be configured to detachably couple with a nicotine vaporizer assembly based on a connector element of the nicotine vaporizer assembly engaging with the connector conduit of the connector conduit. The reservoir assembly may include an isolation structure configured to move in relation to both the reservoir and the nicotine vaporizer connector assembly between a first position where the isolation structure exposes the nicotine vaporizer assembly to the reservoir and at least partially obstructs the connector conduit to restrict the connector element from disengaging from the connector conduit, and a second position where the isolation structure isolates the nicotine vaporizer assembly from the reservoir and opens the connector conduit to enable the connector element to disengage from the connector conduit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No.16/911,951, filed Jun. 25, 2020, the entire contents of which areincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND Field

Example embodiments relate to nicotine electronic vaping devices,nicotine e-vaping devices, or the like, and/or elements thereof.

Description of Related Art

Nicotine e-vaping devices, also referred to herein as nicotineelectronic vaping devices (EVDs) may be used by adult vapers for fluidportable vaping. A nicotine e-vaping device may include a reservoir thatholds nicotine pre-vapor formulation and a nicotine vaporizer assemblythat may heat nicotine pre-vapor formulation drawn from the reservoir togenerate a nicotine vapor.

Some nicotine e-vaping devices are configured to enable replenishment ofthe nicotine pre-vapor formulation held in a reservoir of the nicotinee-vaping device (i.e., refilling of the reservoir).

SUMMARY

Some example embodiments are directed toward a nicotine e-vaping device.

According to some example embodiments, a nicotine vapor generatorassembly may include a reservoir assembly configured to hold a nicotinepre-vapor formulation in a reservoir, and a nicotine vaporizer assemblyconfigured to vaporize the nicotine pre-vapor formulation. The reservoirassembly may further include a reservoir assembly connector assemblydefining a connector conduit, the reservoir assembly connector assemblyconfigured to detachably couple with the nicotine vaporizer assembly toestablish fluid communication between the nicotine vaporizer assemblyand the reservoir based on a connector element of the nicotine vaporizerassembly engaging with the connector conduit. The reservoir assembly mayfurther include an isolation structure configured to move in relation toboth the reservoir and the reservoir assembly connector assembly betweena first position where the isolation structure exposes the nicotinevaporizer assembly to the reservoir and at least partially obstructs theconnector conduit to restrict the connector element from disengagingfrom the connector conduit, and a second position where the isolationstructure isolates the nicotine vaporizer assembly from the reservoirand opens the connector conduit to enable the connector element todisengage from the connector conduit.

The reservoir assembly may include a first fluid port extending througha housing of the reservoir assembly. The isolation structure may beconfigured to expose the reservoir to the nicotine vaporizer assemblyvia the first fluid port based on moving to the first position. Theisolation structure may be further configured to cover the first fluidport based on moving to the second position.

The reservoir assembly may include a second fluid port, the second fluidport configured to enable fluid communication between the reservoir andan exterior of the nicotine vapor generator assembly. The isolationstructure may be configured to cover the second fluid port to isolatethe reservoir from the exterior of the nicotine vapor generator assemblybased on moving to the first position. The isolation structure may befurther configured to expose the second port to expose the reservoir tothe exterior of the nicotine vapor generator assembly based on moving tothe second position. The reservoir assembly may be configured to berefilled through the second fluid port based on the isolation structurebeing in the second position.

The isolation structure may be further configured to move in relation toboth the reservoir assembly and the reservoir assembly connectorassembly to a third position where the isolation structure covers boththe first fluid port and the second fluid port. The isolation structuremay be configured to open the connector conduit to enable the connectorelement to disengage from the connector conduit based on the isolationstructure moving to the third position.

The isolation structure may include a third fluid port configured to atleast partially align with the first fluid port for the isolationstructure to expose the first fluid port based on the isolationstructure moving to the first position.

The reservoir assembly connector assembly may be a bayonet connectorthat is configured to establish a bayonet interface connection with abayonet connector of the nicotine vaporizer assembly.

The isolation structure may be configured to rotate around alongitudinal axis of the reservoir assembly to move between the firstposition and the second position.

According to some example embodiments, a nicotine e-vaping device mayinclude the nicotine vapor generator assembly and a power supplyassembly coupled to the nicotine vapor generator assembly. The powersupply assembly may include a power supply. The power supply assemblymay be configured to supply electrical power from the power supply tothe nicotine vaporizer assembly.

The power supply may be a rechargeable battery.

The power supply assembly may be configured to decouple from thenicotine vapor generator assembly.

According to some example embodiments, a reservoir assembly for anicotine e-vaping device may include one or more structures defining areservoir configured to hold a nicotine pre-vapor formulation. Thereservoir assembly may include a reservoir assembly connector assemblydefining a connector conduit, the reservoir assembly connector assemblyconfigured to detachably couple with a nicotine vaporizer assembly toestablish fluid communication between the nicotine vaporizer assemblyand the reservoir based on a connector element of the nicotine vaporizerassembly engaging with the connector conduit. The reservoir assembly mayinclude an isolation structure configured to move in relation to boththe reservoir and the reservoir assembly connector assembly between afirst position where the isolation structure exposes the nicotinevaporizer assembly to the reservoir and at least partially obstructs theconnector conduit to restrict the connector element from disengagingfrom the connector conduit, and a second position where the isolationstructure isolates the nicotine vaporizer assembly from the reservoirand opens the connector conduit to enable the connector element todisengage from the connector conduit.

The reservoir assembly may include a first fluid port extending througha housing of the reservoir assembly. The isolation structure may beconfigured to expose the reservoir to the nicotine vaporizer assemblyvia the first fluid port based on moving to the first position. Theisolation structure may be further configured to cover the first fluidport based on moving to the second position.

The reservoir assembly may include a second fluid port. The second fluidport may be configured to enable fluid communication between thereservoir and an exterior of the reservoir assembly. The isolationstructure may be configured to cover the second fluid port to isolatethe reservoir from the exterior of the reservoir assembly based onmoving to the first position. The isolation structure may be furtherconfigured to expose the second fluid port to expose the reservoir tothe exterior of the reservoir assembly based on moving to the secondposition. The reservoir assembly may be configured to be refilledthrough the second fluid port based on the isolation structure being inthe second position.

The isolation structure may be further configured to move in relation toboth the reservoir assembly and the reservoir assembly connectorassembly to a third position where the isolation structure covers boththe first fluid port and the second fluid port. The isolation structuremay be configured to open the connector conduit to enable the connectorelement to disengage from the connector conduit based on the isolationstructure moving to the third position.

The isolation structure may include a third fluid port configured to atleast partially align with the first fluid port for the isolationstructure to expose the first fluid port based on the isolationstructure moving to the first position.

The reservoir assembly connector assembly may be a bayonet connectorthat is configured to establish a bayonet interface connection with abayonet connector of the nicotine vaporizer assembly.

The isolation structure may be configured to rotate around alongitudinal axis of the reservoir assembly to move between the firstposition and the second position.

The isolation structure may be configured to move axially along alongitudinal axis of the isolation structure to move between the firstposition and the second position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various features and advantages of the non-limiting exampleembodiments herein may become more apparent upon review of the detaileddescription in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Theaccompanying drawings are merely provided for illustrative purposes andshould not be interpreted to limit the scope of the claims. Theaccompanying drawings are not to be considered as drawn to scale unlessexplicitly noted. For purposes of clarity, various dimensions of thedrawings may have been exaggerated.

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a nicotine e-vaping device according tosome example embodiments.

FIG. 1B is a side view of the nicotine e-vaping device of FIG. 1Aaccording to some example embodiments.

FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional view along line IC-IC′ of the nicotinee-vaping device of FIGS. 1A-1B according to some example embodiments.

FIGS. 2A-2B are perspective views of a nicotine vapor generator assemblyaccording to some example embodiments.

FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view along line IIC-IIC′ of the nicotinevapor generator assembly of FIGS. 2A-2B according to some exampleembodiments.

FIG. 2D is a cross-sectional view along line IID-IID′ of the nicotinevapor generator assembly of FIGS. 2A-2B according to some exampleembodiments.

FIGS. 3A-3B are perspective views of a nicotine vaporizer assemblyaccording to some example embodiments.

FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional perspective view along line IIIC-IIIC′ ofthe nicotine vaporizer assembly of FIGS. 3A-3B according to some exampleembodiments.

FIG. 3D is a cross-sectional perspective view along line IIID-IIID′ ofthe nicotine vaporizer assembly of FIGS. 3A-3B according to some exampleembodiments.

FIG. 3E is a perspective view of an interlock structure according tosome example embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an isolation structure according to someexample embodiments.

FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view along line IIC-IIC′ of the nicotinevapor generator assembly of FIGS. 2A-2B according to some exampleembodiments.

FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view along line IID-IID′ of the nicotinevapor generator assembly of FIGS. 2A-2B according to some exampleembodiments.

FIG. 5C is a cross-sectional perspective view along line VC-VC′ of thereservoir assembly of FIGS. 5A-5B according to some example embodiments.

FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view of the nicotine vapor generatorassembly of FIGS. 2A-2B according to some example embodiments.

FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view of the nicotine vapor generatorassembly of FIG. 6A along view line VIB-VIB′ according to some exampleembodiments.

FIG. 7A is a perspective view of a reservoir assembly and a nicotinevaporizer assembly aligned with the longitudinal axis of the reservoirassembly according to some example embodiments.

FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view of the reservoir assembly and alignednicotine vaporizer assembly of FIG. 7A along view line VIIB-VIIB′.

FIG. 8A is a perspective view of a reservoir assembly and a nicotinevaporizer assembly inserted into the reservoir assembly according tosome example embodiments.

FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional perspective view along line VIIIB-VIIIB′ ofthe reservoir assembly and nicotine vaporizer assembly of FIG. 8Aaccording to some example embodiments.

FIG. 8C is a cross-sectional view along line VIIIC-VIIIC′ of thereservoir assembly and nicotine vaporizer assembly of FIG. 8A accordingto some example embodiments.

FIG. 8D is a cross-sectional view along line VIIID-VIIID′ of thereservoir assembly and nicotine vaporizer assembly of FIG. 8A accordingto some example embodiments.

FIG. 9A is a perspective view of a reservoir assembly and a nicotinevaporizer assembly locked into the reservoir assembly according to someexample embodiments.

FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional perspective view along line IXB-IXB′ of thereservoir assembly and nicotine vaporizer assembly of FIG. 9A accordingto some example embodiments.

FIG. 9C is a cross-sectional view along line IXC-IXC′ of the reservoirassembly and nicotine vaporizer assembly of FIG. 9A according to someexample embodiments.

FIG. 9D is a cross-sectional view along line IXD-IXD′ of the reservoirassembly and nicotine vaporizer assembly of FIG. 9A according to someexample embodiments.

FIG. 9E is a cross-sectional view along line IXE-IXE′ of the reservoirassembly and nicotine vaporizer assembly of FIG. 9A according to someexample embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

Some detailed example embodiments are disclosed herein. However,specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are merelyprovided for purposes of describing example embodiments. Exampleembodiments may, however, be embodied in many alternate forms and shouldnot be construed as limited to only the example embodiments set forthherein.

Accordingly, while example embodiments are capable of variousmodifications and alternative forms, example embodiments thereof areshown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described indetail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent tolimit example embodiments to the particular forms disclosed, but to thecontrary, example embodiments are to cover all modifications,equivalents, and alternatives thereof. Like numbers refer to likeelements throughout the description of the figures.

It should be understood that when an element or layer is referred to asbeing “on,” “connected to,” “coupled to,” “attached to,” “adjacent to,”or “covering” another element or layer, it may be directly on, connectedto, coupled to, attached to, adjacent to or covering the other element,or layer or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast,when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directlyconnected to,” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, thereare no intervening elements or layers present. Like numbers refer tolike elements throughout the specification. As used herein, the term“and/or” includes any and all combinations or sub-combinations of one ormore of the associated listed items.

It should be understood that, although the terms first, second, third,etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, regions, layersand/or sections, these elements, regions, layers, and/or sections shouldnot be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguishone element, region, layer, or section from another region, layer, orsection. Thus, a first element, region, layer, or section discussedbelow could be termed a second element, region, layer, or sectionwithout departing from the teachings of example embodiments.

Spatially relative terms (e.g., “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,”“upper,” and the like) may be used herein for ease of description todescribe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) orfeature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It should be understood thatthe spatially relative terms are intended to encompass differentorientations of the device in use or operation in addition to theorientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in thefigures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” otherelements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elementsor features. Thus, the term “below” may encompass both an orientation ofabove and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptorsused herein interpreted accordingly.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing variousexample embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of exampleembodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” areintended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearlyindicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms“includes,” “including,” “comprises,” and/or “comprising,” when used inthis specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers,steps, operations, and/or elements, etc., but do not preclude thepresence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps,operations, elements, etc., and/or groups thereof.

When the words “about” and “substantially” are used in thisspecification in connection with a numerical value, it is intended thatthe associated numerical value include a tolerance of ±10% around thestated numerical value, unless otherwise explicitly defined.

Example embodiments are described herein with reference tocross-sectional illustrations that are schematic illustrations ofexample embodiments. As such, variations from the shapes of theillustrations are to be expected. Thus, example embodiments should notbe construed as limited to the shapes of regions illustrated herein butare to include deviations in shapes.

Nicotine vapor, nicotine aerosol and nicotine dispersion are usedinterchangeably and are meant to cover the matter generated or outputtedby the devices disclosed, claimed and/or equivalents thereof whereinsuch matter contains nicotine. The nicotine e-vaping devices asdescribed herein may each be regarded as an electronic nicotine deliverysystem (ENDS).

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. Itwill be further understood that terms, including those defined incommonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaningthat is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant artand will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal senseunless expressly so defined herein.

Hardware may be implemented using processing or control circuitry suchas, but not limited to, one or more processors, one or more CentralProcessing Units (CPUs), one or more microcontrollers, one or morearithmetic logic units (ALUs), one or more digital signal processors(DSPs), one or more microcomputers, one or more field programmable gatearrays (FPGAs), one or more System-on-Chips (SoCs), one or moreprogrammable logic units (PLUs), one or more microprocessors, one ormore Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), or any otherdevice or devices capable of responding to and executing instructions ina defined manner.

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a nicotine e-vaping device according tosome example embodiments. FIG. 1B is a side view of the nicotinee-vaping device of FIG. 1A according to some example embodiments. FIG.1C is a cross-sectional view along line IC-IC′ of the nicotine e-vapingdevice of FIGS. 1A-1B according to some example embodiments. As usedherein, the term “nicotine e-vaping device” is inclusive of all types ofnicotine electronic vaping devices, regardless of form, size or shape.FIGS. 2A-2B are perspective views of a nicotine vapor generator assembly110 according to some example embodiments. FIG. 2C is a cross-sectionalview along line IIC-IIC′ of the nicotine vapor generator assembly 110 ofFIGS. 2A-2B according to some example embodiments. FIG. 2D is across-sectional view along line IID-IID′ of the nicotine vapor generatorassembly 110 of FIGS. 2A-2B according to some example embodiments.

Referring to FIGS. 1A-1C, the nicotine e-vaping device 100 includes anicotine vapor generator assembly 110 and a power supply assembly 210.In some example embodiments, the nicotine vapor generator assembly 110and power supply assembly 210 include respective complementary connectorassemblies 142, 232 and are configured to be detachably connected toeach other based on detachably coupling the connector assemblies 142,232 together. In some example embodiments, a nicotine vapor generatorassembly 110 that is configured to be detachably coupled to a powersupply assembly 210 to form a nicotine e-vaping device 100 may bereferred to herein as a cartridge. In some example embodiments, theconnector assemblies 142 include threaded connectors. It should beappreciated that a connector assembly 142, 232 may be any type ofconnector, including, without limitation, a snug-fit, detent, clamp,bayonet, sliding fit, sleeve fit, alignment fit, threaded connector,magnetic, clasp, or any other type of connection, and/or combinationsthereof. In some example embodiments, the nicotine e-vaping device 100may be a unitary piece that includes the nicotine vapor generatorassembly 110 and the power supply assembly 210 in the unitary piece,instead of including the nicotine vapor generator assembly 110 and thepower supply assembly 210 as separate pieces that are coupled togetherto form the nicotine e-vaping device 100.

As shown in at least FIGS. 2A-2D, the nicotine vapor generator assembly110 may include at least a reservoir 119 that is configured to hold anicotine pre-vapor formulation, a nicotine vaporizer assembly 400 thatis configured to heat nicotine pre-vapor formulation drawn from thereservoir 119 to generate a nicotine vapor, and an isolation structure188 configured to adjustably expose or isolate the nicotine vaporizerassembly 400 in relation to the reservoir 119. As further shown, thenicotine vapor generator assembly 110 may include an outlet assembly112, but it will be understood that in some example embodiments theoutlet assembly 112 may be omitted. As shown in FIGS. 1A-1C, thereservoir 119 and the isolation structure 188 may be included in areservoir assembly 114 of some example embodiments, where the reservoirassembly 114 and the nicotine vaporizer assembly 400 may be coupledtogether to at least partially establish the nicotine vapor generatorassembly 110. The isolation structure 188 and its connections withelements of the reservoir assembly 114 are illustrated in further detailin FIGS. 4 and 5A-5C.

A nicotine pre-vapor formulation is a material or combination ofmaterials that may be transformed into a nicotine vapor. For example,the nicotine pre-vapor formulation may include a liquid, solid, and/orgel formulation. These may include, for example and without limitation,water, oil, emulsions, beads, solvents, active ingredients, ethanol,plant extracts, nicotine, natural or artificial flavors, vapor formerssuch as glycerin and propylene glycol, and/or any other ingredients thatmay be suitable for vaping.

As shown in at least FIGS. 1A-1C, 2C-2D, and 5A-5B, the reservoirassembly 114 may include an upper structure 150, a lower structure 122,an outer housing 118, and an inner housing 130 that may collectively atleast partially define the reservoir 119 as an annular space bounded byrespective surfaces of at least the upper structure 150, lower structure122, outer housing 118, and inner housing 130. As shown, the reservoirassembly 114 may be configured to hold a nicotine pre-vapor formulationwithin the reservoir 119.

As shown in at least FIGS. 2A-2D, a ring gasket 126 may establish a sealof the interface of the upper structure 150 and an inner surface of theouter housing 118, and a ring gasket 124 may establish a seal of theinterface of the lower structure 122 and an inner surface of the outerhousing 118, to mitigate leakage of nicotine pre-vapor formulation fromthe reservoir 119 to an exterior of the reservoir assembly 114 via theaforementioned interfaces. The inner housing 130 may be coupled to thelower structure 122 via respective, complementary connectors 312, 311,and a ring gasket 318 may establish a seal of the interface of the innerhousing 130 and the lower structure 122 to mitigate leakage of nicotinepre-vapor formulation from the reservoir 119 to an exterior of thereservoir assembly 114 via the aforementioned interface. As shown, theconnectors 311, 312 may include threaded connectors, but it should beappreciated that a connector 311, 312 may be any type of connector,including, without limitation, a snug-fit, detent, clamp, bayonet,sliding fit, sleeve fit, alignment fit, threaded connector, magnetic,clasp, or any other type of connection, and/or combinations thereof.

As shown in at least FIG. 2D, the upper structure 150 may include one ormore fluid ports 150-o, also referred to as one or more second fluidports, which extend through the upper structure 150 between thereservoir 119 and an exterior of at least the reservoir 119, such thatthe one or more fluid ports 150-o may enable fluid communication betweenthe reservoir 119 and the exterior of at least the reservoir 119. Asshown in at least FIGS. 1C and 2C-2D, the reservoir assembly 114 mayinclude a coupling structure 160 that is configured to be adjacent tothe upper structure 150 and is configured to rotate, around alongitudinal axis 201 of the reservoir assembly 114, in relation to theupper structure 150. A ring gasket 165 may seal an interface between theupper structure 150 and the coupling structure 160, to mitigate leakageof nicotine pre-vapor formulation from the reservoir 119 via theaforementioned interface. The coupling structure 160 may include one ormore fluid ports 160-o which extend through the coupling structure 160.As shown in at least FIG. 2D, in some example embodiments, each fluidport 150-o may be aligned with a separate fluid port 160-o, in adirection extending coaxially with the longitudinal axis 201, such thatreservoir assembly 114 is configured to enable fluid communicationbetween the reservoir 119 and the exterior of the reservoir assembly 114via the longitudinally-aligned fluid ports 150-o, 160-o. In some exampleembodiments, the coupling structure 160 is configured to rotate, inrelation to the upper structure 150, around the longitudinal axis 201 toadjustably longitudinally align or mis-align the one or more fluid ports160-o with the one or more fluid ports 150-o and thereby to adjustablyexpose or isolate the reservoir 119 to an exterior of the reservoirassembly 114, to enable re-filling of the reservoir 119 with nicotinepre-vapor formulation when the reservoir 119 is exposed to the exteriorof the reservoir assembly 114.

Still referring to at least FIGS. 1C and 2C-2D, the reservoir assembly114 may include a port adjustment ring 116 that is connected to thecoupling structure 160 and is configured to cause the coupling structure160 to rotate around the longitudinal axis 201 based on the portadjustment ring 116 being caused to rotate around the longitudinal axis201. For example, the port adjustment ring 116 may be fixed to thecoupling structure 160 via an adhesive, a weld, a bolt connection, athreaded connection, a bayonet connection, or the like. Accordingly, thereservoir assembly 114 may be configured to enable manually-implementedrotation of the coupling structure 160 in relation to the upperstructure 150 to adjustably expose or isolate the reservoir 119 to anexterior of the reservoir assembly 114 via longitudinally-aligned ormis-aligned ports 160-o, 150-o.

Still referring to at least FIGS. 1C and 2C-2D, the nicotine vaporgenerator assembly 110 may include an outlet assembly 112 that isconfigured to detachably engage with the coupling structure 160 toreversibly expose or isolate the one or more ports 160-o from anexterior of the nicotine vapor generator assembly 110 and further toestablish fluid communication between a conduit extending from thenicotine vaporizer assembly 400 to an exterior of the nicotine vaporgenerator assembly 110 (described further below) via outlet 251. Asshown, the outlet assembly 112 includes an inner conduit 112-i that isconfigured to receive a nose section of the coupling structure 160. Theoutlet assembly 112 further includes a projection structure 314,protruding from an inner surface of the inner conduit 112-i, that isconfigured to be received into a groove structure 160-g of the couplingstructure 160 to seal the interface between the conduit 112-i and thenose section 160-1 of the coupling structure 160 to mitigate leakage offluids passing through the inner conduit 112-i from exiting the outletassembly 112 through passages other than the outlet 251. As shown inFIGS. 2C-2D, the outlet assembly 112 is configured to establish abayonet connection with the port adjustment ring 116. The portadjustment ring 116 includes a plug bayonet connector 117 and the outletassembly 112 includes a channel bayonet connector 113 that iscomplementary to the plug bayonet connector 117. As a result, the outletassembly 112 is configured to engage the channel bayonet connector 113with the plug bayonet connector 117 to establish a detachable bayonetconnection between the outlet assembly 112 and the coupling structure160 and thereby to establish a detachable bayonet connection between thereservoir assembly 114 and the outlet assembly 112.

Still referring to at least FIGS. 1C and FIGS. 2A-2D, the outletassembly 112 is configured to cover the one or more ports 160-o of thecoupling structure 160 based on the outlet assembly 112 establishing thedetachable bayonet connection between the outlet assembly 112 and thecoupling structure 160, such that the outlet assembly 112 isolates theone or more ports 160-o from the exterior of the nicotine vaporgenerator assembly 110 and thus mitigates leakage of nicotine pre-vaporformulation from the reservoir 119 via ports 150-o, 160-o when theoutlet assembly 112 is coupled to the reservoir assembly 114 via thebayonet connection between the outlet assembly 112 and the couplingstructure 160. In addition, the nicotine vapor generator assembly 110may be configured to enable exposure of the reservoir 119 to an exteriorof the nicotine vapor generator assembly 110 based on both the outletassembly 112 being detached from the coupling structure 160 and thecoupling structure 160 further being rotated around the longitudinalaxis 201 to longitudinally align the one or more ports 160-o of thecoupling structure 160 with one or more ports 150-o of the upperstructure 150.

As shown in at least FIGS. 1C and 2C-2D, the inner housing 130 isconnected to the upper structure 150 and is fixed in place in relationto the upper structure 150 (e.g., via an adhesive, a connector, or thelike). As shown, the inner surface of the inner housing 130 at leastpartially defines a barrel conduit 130-a and a nose conduit 130-i thatare configured to receive at least a portion of the nicotine vaporizerassembly 400 to enable the nicotine vaporizer assembly 400 to be coupledwith the reservoir assembly 114 to at least partially establish thenicotine vapor generator assembly 110.

As shown in FIGS. 2C-2D and 5A-5B, the inner housing 130 defines alower-barrel conduit 130-a and an upper, nose conduit 130-i, where theconduit 130-i has a diameter that is at least as great as an outerdiameter of a nose segment 176-n of the nicotine vaporizer assembly 400and where the barrel conduit 130-a has a diameter that is at least asgreat as an outer diameter of an outer housing 320 of the nicotinevaporizer assembly 400.

Still referring to at least FIGS. 2C-2D, the upper structure 150includes a conduit 150-i that is configured to be aligned with the noseconduit 130-i around the longitudinal axis 201 and to have an innersurface that is flush or substantially flush with an inner surface ofthe inner housing 130 so that conduits 130-i and 150-i collectivelydefine a single, continuous conduit.

As shown in FIGS. 1A-2D and FIG. 4 and FIGS. 5A-5C, the reservoirassembly 114 includes an isolation structure 188 that is connected tothe coupling structure 160 and is fixed in place in relation to thecoupling structure 160 (e.g., via adhesive, welds, connectors, or thelike), such that the coupling structure 160 is configured to cause theisolation structure 188 to rotate around the longitudinal axis 201 withthe coupling structure 160. As shown in at least FIGS. 2C-2D and 4-5B,the isolation structure 188 includes a barrel structure 188-1 with aninner surface that defines a barrel conduit 188-o and a nose structure188-2 with an inner surface that defines a narrower nose conduit 188-i.As shown in FIGS. 2C-2D and 4-5B, the nose structure 188-2 is fixed tothe coupling structure 160 such that the nose conduit 188-i is directlyadjacent to the conduit 160-i and at least a portion of the nosestructure 188-2 and the coupling structure 160 occupy the conduitdefined by conduits 130-i and 150-i and the barrel structure 188-1occupies conduit 130-i. In some example embodiments, the outer diametersof the barrel structure 188-1 and the nose structure 188-2 maycorrespond to the inner diameters of the conduits 130-a and 130-i,respectively, such that an interposing space may be absent orsubstantially absent between the outer surfaces of the isolationstructure 188 and the inner surfaces of the inner housing 130, butexample embodiments are not limited thereto.

As shown, in at least FIGS. 2C-2D, the nose structure 188-2 defines aconduit 188-i and the barrel structure 188-1 defines a conduit 188-athat is wider than conduit 188-i. In addition, the coupling structure160 includes a conduit 160-i that is configured to be aligned with theconduit 188-i around the longitudinal axis 201 and to have an innersurface that is flush or substantially flush with an inner surface ofthe nose structure 188-2 so that conduits 188-i and 160-i collectivelydefine a single, continuous conduit.

As shown, the conduits 188-i and 160-i are configured to collectivelydefine a conduit that establishes fluid communication between conduit188-a and an exterior of the reservoir assembly 114, independently ofreservoir 119. As further shown in FIGS. 2C-2D, the outlet assembly 112is configured to be detachably connected to the coupling structure 160such that a nose portion of the coupling structure 160, through whichconduit 160-i extends, is inserted into the inner conduit 112-i of theoutlet assembly, such that the outlet 251, inner conduit 112-i, andconduit 160-i and 188-i collectively define a conduit that establishesfluid communication between conduit 188-a and an exterior of thenicotine vapor generator assembly 110, independently of reservoir 119.

Still referring to FIGS. 2C-2D and FIGS. 5A-5B, the inner housing 130includes one or more ports 132, also referred to herein as one or morefirst fluid ports that extend through the inner housing 130 between thereservoir 119 and the conduit 130-a to establish fluid communicationtherebetween. As further shown, the isolation structure 188 may includeone or more ports 188-o, also referred to herein as one or more thirdfluid ports, that extend through the barrel structure 188-1 to establishfluid communication between barrel conduit 188-a and an exterior of theisolation structure 188. Based on being fixed to the coupling structure160, which is configured to be rotated around longitudinal axis 201, theisolation structure 188 may be configured to rotate around thelongitudinal axis 201 to adjustably radially align or mis-align the oneor more ports 188-o with the one or more ports 132 of the inner housing130, to adjustably expose the barrel conduit 188-a with the reservoir119 or isolate the barrel conduit 188-a from the reservoir 119 based onthe isolation structure 188 being rotated around longitudinal axis 201.

Referring now to FIGS. 1A-1C, the power supply assembly 210 of thenicotine e-vaping device 100 is now described. Referring to FIG. 1C, anexample power supply assembly 210 may include an outer housing 212 andend cap 214 at least partially defining an enclosure. As shown, a powersupply 220 may be included within the enclosure of the power supplyassembly 210. The power supply 220 may be a rechargeable battery, andthe power supply assembly 210 may be configured to supply electricalpower from the power supply 220 to the nicotine vapor generator assembly110 (e.g., to the nicotine vaporizer assembly 400 via one or moreelectrical leads) to support nicotine vapor generation at the nicotinevaporizer assembly 400.

As shown in FIG. 1C, an example nicotine e-vaping device 100 may includeone or more instances of control circuitry 222 that may be configured tocontrol the supply of electrical power from the power supply 220 to thenicotine vapor generator assembly 110 (e.g., to the nicotine vaporizerassembly 400). In the example embodiments shown in FIG. 1B, the controlcircuitry 222 is included in the power supply assembly 210 and isstructurally supported therein by one or more instances of supportstructure 218. It will be understood that, in some example embodiments,the control circuitry 222 may be included in the nicotine vaporgenerator assembly 110 instead of the power supply assembly 210. In someexample embodiments, the nicotine e-vaping device 100 may be a unitarypiece that includes the nicotine vapor generator assembly 110 and thepower supply assembly 210 in the unitary piece, instead of including thenicotine vapor generator assembly 110 and the power supply assembly 210as separate pieces that are coupled together to form the nicotinee-vaping device 100.

As shown in FIGS. 1A-1C, the power supply assembly 210 includes aninitialization interface 216 configured to be manually manipulated tocause the control circuitry 222 to cause power to be supplied to thenicotine vapor generator assembly 110. As shown, the initializationinterface 216 may be a button device, but example embodiments are notlimited thereto. For example, the initialization interface 216 may be aswitch device. Still referring to FIGS. 1A-1C, the power supply assembly210 may include a power supply interface 228 that is configured toconnect with an electrical power supply conduit to enable the powersupply 220 to be charged or re-charged via power supplied thereto froman external power source via the power supply interface 228. In someexample embodiments, the power supply interface 228 may be a UniversalSerial Bus (USB) interface, a mini-USB interface, a micro-USB interface,or the like.

In some example embodiments, wherein the nicotine vapor generatorassembly 110 and the power supply assembly 210 are configured to bedetachably coupled via complementary connector assemblies 142 and 323,respectively, one or more electrical circuits through the nicotine vaporgenerator assembly 110 and the power supply assembly 210 may beestablished based on connector assemblies 142, 232 being coupledtogether. In one example, the one or more established electricalcircuits may include at least the nicotine vaporizer assembly 400, thecontrol circuitry 222, and the power supply 220. As shown in at leastFIG. 1C, the power supply assembly 210 may include an electrodestructure 230 that is electrically coupled to the power supply 220 andthe control circuitry 222 via an electrical connection structure 226. Asshown, the electrode structure 230 is configured to contact acorresponding electrode structure 172 of the nicotine vaporizer assembly400 of the nicotine vapor generator assembly 110, based on the connector323 of the power supply assembly 210 coupling with the connectorassembly 142 of the nicotine vapor generator assembly 110, to establishan electrical circuit that includes at least the power supply 220, thecontrol circuitry 222, and the nicotine vaporizer assembly 400 therebyelectrically coupling the power supply 220 and control circuitry 222 tothe nicotine vaporizer assembly 400. In the example embodiments shown,electrode structures 230 and 172 are configured to contact each othervia flush contact of respective surfaces of the electrode structures 230and 172.

Still referring to FIGS. 1A-1C, the nicotine e-vaping device 100 mayinclude an air inlet 250 that is configured to direct air to be drawninto an interior of the nicotine e-vaping device 100 and one or moreconduits configured to direct the air to be drawn into the nicotinevaporizer assembly 400 to entrain nicotine vapor generated therein andto further be drawn out of the nicotine vaporizer assembly 400 and outof the nicotine e-vaping device 100 via the conduits 188-i, 160-i,112-i, and outlet 251 of the outlet assembly 112. As shown, the airinlet 250 may be an arcuate and/or annular inlet that extends partiallyor entirely around a circumference of an exterior of the nicotinee-vaping device 100. In the example embodiments shown, the air inlet 250is defined by a gap between the coupled nicotine vapor generatorassembly 110 and the power supply assembly 210, but example embodimentsare not limited thereto: the air inlet 250 may be entirely located in,and entirely defined by, the nicotine vapor generator assembly 110 orthe power supply assembly 210. As further shown, the power supplyassembly 210 may include a structure 224 that at least partially definesone or more conduits extending through an interior of at least the powersupply assembly 210 from the air inlet 250 towards the nicotinevaporizer assembly 400.

The power supply assembly 210 further includes an adjustment ring 120that defines one or more orifices 121, and the adjustment ring 120 maybe configured to be rotated, in relation to at least the structure 224,around a longitudinal axis of the power supply assembly 210 toadjustably align one or more differently-sized orifices 121 with atleast one air conduit defined by the structure 224 in order toadjustably configure the nicotine e-vaping device 100 to support aparticular maximum flow rate of air through the nicotine e-vaping devicevia flow choking by the orifice 121 that is aligned with the conduitdefined by structure 224. In some example embodiments, the adjustmentring 120 may be configured to be rotated to isolate the conduit definedby structure 224, to preclude air from being drawn from the air inlet250 to the nicotine vaporizer assembly 400.

Still referring to at least FIG. 1C, the structure 224 is coupled to theconnector 323 and further defines a space that is configured to be influid communication with an inlet conduit 178-i of the nicotinevaporizer assembly 440 when the connector 323 is connected to theconnector assembly 142 of the nicotine vapor generator assembly 110.

In some example embodiments, the nicotine e-vaping device 100 may be aunitary piece that includes the nicotine vapor generator assembly 110and the power supply assembly 210 in the unitary piece, such that thereis no need to couple the nicotine vapor generator assembly 110 and thepower supply assembly 210 together to establish the one or moreelectrical circuits.

In some example embodiments, the power supply 220 may include a battery.In some examples, the power supply 220 may include a Lithium-ion batteryor one of its variants, for example a Lithium-ion polymer battery, or adifferent type of battery. Further, the power supply 220 may berechargeable and may include circuitry configured to allow the batteryto be chargeable by an external charging device.

In some example embodiments, the power supply 220 may be electricallyconnected with the nicotine vaporizer assembly 400 by control circuitry222 based on a signal received at the control circuitry 222 from asensor of the nicotine e-vaping device 100, an interface of the nicotinee-vaping device 100 (e.g., initialization interface 216), or acombination thereof. To control the supply of electrical power tonicotine vaporizer assembly 400, the control circuitry 222 may executeone or more instances of computer-executable program code. The controlcircuitry 222 may include a processor and a memory. The memory may be acomputer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable code. Thecontrol circuitry 222 may be a special purpose machine configured toexecute the computer-executable code to control the supply of electricalpower to the nicotine vaporizer assembly 400.

Referring now to FIGS. 3A-3D, the nicotine vaporizer assembly 400 is nowdescribed. FIGS. 3A-3B are perspective views of a nicotine vaporizerassembly according to some example embodiments. FIG. 3C is across-sectional perspective view along line IIIC-IIIC′ of the nicotinevaporizer assembly of FIGS. 3A-3B according to some example embodiments.FIG. 3D is a cross-sectional perspective view along line IIID-IIID′ ofthe nicotine vaporizer assembly of FIGS. 3A-3B according to some exampleembodiments.

Referring to FIGS. 3A-3D, a nicotine vaporizer assembly 400 may includea conduit structure 186, a nicotine vaporizer 180 that includes adispensing interface 180-W and a heating element 180-H, an electrodestructure 172, and an outlet conduit structure 176. The conduitstructure 186 has an inner surface 186-s that at least partially definesa conduit 174 extending through the nicotine vaporizer assembly 400along a longitudinal axis 401 thereof. The conduit structure 186 mayfurther include a set of slots 388, extending coaxially to thelongitudinal axis 401, that are configured to structurally support thedispensing interface 180-W and hold the dispensing interface 180-W inplace in a fixed position in relation to the conduit structure 186. Asshown, an interface between the conduit structure 186 and the outerhousing 130 may be sealed with a ring gasket 316.

As shown, the dispensing interface 180-W may extend transversely throughthe conduit 174, between slots 388 extending along opposite sides of theconduit 174. As further shown, a heating element 180-H may extend aroundan outer surface of the dispensing interface 180-W. As shown, theheating element 180-H may be a wire coil that is wrapped around thedispensing interface 180-W in direct contact therewith. The dispensinginterface 180-W may include one or more instances of wicking materialand may be referred to as a wick.

As shown in FIGS. 3A-3D, electrode structure 172 may be positioned at afirst end of the conduit structure 186 by gasket 173. The electrodestructure 172 and gasket 173 may collectively define a first end of theconduit 174 along the longitudinal axis 401. As shown, the electrodestructure 172 includes a central conduit 172-i that extends along(“coaxially to”) the longitudinal axis 401 and a set of at least twoinlet conduits 172-o that extend transversely, orthogonally to thelongitudinal axis 401, between a first end of the central conduit 172-iand an exterior of the electrode structure 172 that is further exteriorto the conduit 174. Accordingly, as shown in at least FIGS. 3C-3D, thecentral conduit 172-i has a first end that is in fluid communicationwith an exterior of the nicotine vaporizer assembly 400, independentlyof conduit 174, via the transversely-extending inlet conduits 172-o, andan opposite, second end that is directly exposed to the conduit 174.Thus, the electrode structure 172 is configured to direct a fluid, suchas air, drawn into the nicotine vaporizer assembly 400 to be drawn intothe central conduit 172-i from an exterior via one or more inletconduits 172-o and to be further drawn from the central conduit 172-iinto the conduit 174. The gasket 173 may include an electricallyinsulating material, such that the gasket 173 electrically insulates theelectrode structure 172 and the conduit structure 186 from each other.

As further shown in FIGS. 3C-3D, the nicotine vaporizer assembly 400includes a set of two electrical leads 181 (only one electrical lead 181is shown in FIGS. 3C-3D, but both electrical leads 181 are shown in FIG.6B) that are connected to opposite ends of the heating element 180-H.One electrical lead 181, connected to one end of the heating element180-H, may be connected to the electrode structure 172 and may extendthereto via a portion of the conduit 174 and through a portion of thegasket 173. Another electrical lead 181, connected to an opposite end ofthe heating element 180-H, may be connected to the conduit structure 186and may extend thereto via a portion of the conduit 174 and through aportion of the gasket 173. As a result, the electrical leads 181 mayelectrically couple the opposite ends of the heating element 180-H withthe electrode structure 172 and the conduit structure 186, respectively.The gasket 173 may include an electrically insulating material, suchthat the gasket 173 may electrically insulate the leads 181 extendingthrough the gasket 173 from each other and may further electricallyinsulate the electrode structure 172 and the conduit structure 186 fromeach other. Accordingly, the electrode structure 172 may be configuredto be an anode or cathode, and the conduit structure 186 may beconfigured to be an opposite thereof (e.g., a cathode or anode). Asshown in FIG. 1C, a lower surface 186-H of the conduits structure 186may be configured to contact a portion of the power supply assembly 210when the nicotine vapor generator assembly 110 is coupled to the powersupply assembly 210. In particular, the lower surface 186-H of theconduit structure 186 is configured to contact the connector assembly232 of the power supply assembly 210 when the nicotine vapor generatorassembly 110 is coupled to the power supply assembly 210, concurrentlywith a surface of the electrode structure 172 contacting the electrodestructure 230 of the power supply assembly 210. Accordingly, thenicotine vaporizer assembly 400 is configured to establish an electricalcircuit that extends therethrough when the nicotine vapor generatorassembly 110 is coupled to the power supply assembly 210, where theelectrical circuit extends from the power supply 220 to the electrodestructure 230 via the control circuitry 222, from the electrodestructure 230 to the electrode structure 172 that is in contact with theelectrode structure 230, from the electrode structure 172 to a first endof the heating element 180-H via a first electrical lead 181 that is incontact with both the first end of the heating element 180-H and theelectrode structure 172, through the heating element 180-H from thefirst end to an opposite second end thereof, from the second end of theheating element 180-H to the conduit structure 186 via a secondelectrical lead 181 that is in contact with both the second end of theheating element 180-H and the conduit structure 186, and from theconduit structure 186 to the power supply 220 via at least the connectorassembly 232.

Still referring to FIGS. 3A-3D, the nicotine vaporizer assembly 400includes a sheath structure 178 that surrounds a first end of theelectrode structure 172 that is isolated from the conduit 174 by atleast the gasket 173 and conduit structure 186. The sheath structure 178extends coaxially with the electrode structure 172 and surrounds thefirst end of the electrode structure 172 as shown in FIGS. 3C-3D todefine an annular inlet conduit 178-i that extends coaxially to thelongitudinal axis 401 and is defined by the gasket 173, the conduitstructure 186, an inner surface of the sheath structure 178, and anouter surface of the electrode structure 172. As shown, the inletconduit 178-i is open to an exterior of the nicotine vaporizer assembly400 and is further open to the inlet conduits 172-i of the electrodestructure 172. Accordingly, the nicotine vaporizer assembly 400 isconfigured to direct a fluid, such as air, that is drawn into thenicotine vaporizer assembly 400 to be drawn into the inlet conduits172-i via the inlet conduit 178-i. The sheath structure 178 may furtherprovide protection to the electrode structure from impacts at leastpartially orthogonally to the longitudinal axis 401, thereby improvingthe durability of the nicotine vaporizer assembly 400.

Still referring to FIGS. 3A-3D, the nicotine vaporizer assembly 400includes an outlet conduit structure 176 that defines an outlet conduit176-i and a longitudinal end of the conduit 174. The nicotine vaporizerassembly further includes an outer housing 320 that extends coaxially tothe longitudinal axis 401, between a surface of the conduit structure186 and the outlet conduit structure 176.

Referring first to the outer housing 320, the outer housing 320 includesfirst ports 320-o that extend through the outer housing 320 and arespaced apart on opposite sides of the outer housing 320 (e.g., areoffset by 180 degrees from each other. The outer housing 320 furtherincludes second ports 320-i that extend through the outer housing 320and are spaced apart on opposite sides of the outer housing 320 (e.g.,are offset by 180 degrees from each other), where the first ports 320-oand the second ports 320-i are orthogonal to each other around the outerhousing 320 (e.g., the second ports 320-i and the first ports 320-o areoffset by 90 degrees from each other). As shown, an inner surface of theouter housing 320 and an outer surface of the conduit structure 186define the inner and outer radial boundaries of an annular conduit 321that extends coaxially to longitudinal axis 401 between a surface of theconduit structure 186 and the outlet conduit structure 176. Each port ofthe first ports 320-o and the second ports 320-i may establish fluidcommunication between the dispensing interface 180-W and an exterior ofthe nicotine vaporizer assembly 400 via annular conduit 321. As shown inat least FIGS. 9A-9E, one or more of the ports 320-o and 320-i may beexposed to the reservoir 119 of the reservoir assembly 114, eitherdirectly or via one or more ports 132, 188-o radially aligned with theone or more of the ports 320-o and 320-i, such that one or more of theports 320-o and 320-i may be configured to establish fluid communicationbetween the dispensing interface 180-W and the reservoir 119 when thenicotine vaporizer assembly 400 is coupled to the reservoir assembly 114and the isolation structure 188 is rotated to expose at least the barrelconduit 188-a to the reservoir 119. Accordingly, the nicotine vaporizerassembly 400 may be configured to direct nicotine pre-vapor formulationfrom the reservoir 119 to the dispensing interface 180-W via one or moreports 320-o, 320-i and via the annular conduit 321, to which oppositeends of the dispensing interface 180-W are directly exposed as shown inFIGS. 3C-3D.

In some example embodiments, the nicotine vaporizer assembly 400 mayinclude an additional dispensing interface occupying a portion or anentirety of the annular conduit 321, such that the annular dispensinginterface isolates the dispensing interface 180-W from direct exposureto the one or more ports 320-o, 320-i (e.g., where only empty spaceinterposes between the dispensing interface 180-W and the one or moreports 320-o, 320-i), and the additional dispensing interface may enablenicotine pre-vapor formulation to be drawn from the one or more ports320-o, 320-i to the dispensing interface 180-W through an interior ofthe additional dispensing interface. As further shown in FIGS. 3C-3D,the longitudinal axis of the dispensing interface 180-W may be radiallyaligned with the second ports 320-o.

The outlet conduit structure 176 may include a plate structure 176-cthat at least partially defines a longitudinal end of the conduits 174,321 and a conduit structure 176-n, aligned with the longitudinal axis401 and extending coaxially therewith, that defines the outlet conduit176-i that itself establishes fluid communication between the proximatelongitudinal end of conduit 174 and the exterior of the nicotinevaporizer assembly 400. A fluid that is located in the conduit 174,including air drawn into the conduit 174 via conduits 178-i, 172-i, and172-o, a nicotine vapor generated in the conduit 174 based on theheating element 180-H heating nicotine pre-vapor formulation drawn intothe dispensing interface 180-W from the reservoir 119, or a combinationthereof, may be drawn out of the conduit 174 and out of the nicotinevaporizer assembly 400 via the outlet conduit 176-i.

Referring back to at least FIGS. 1C and 2C-2D, the nicotine vaporizerassembly 400 and reservoir assembly 114 may be configured to be coupledwith each other such that the nicotine vaporizer assembly 400 isinserted into the conduits 188-i and 188-a, where longitudinal axes 401and 201 are aligned to be the same longitudinal axis, such that the nosestructure 176-n of the nicotine vaporizer assembly 400 extends throughconduit 188-i, at least partially sealed therewith via at least aportion of the outer housing 320 occupies barrel conduit 188-a, and oneor more of the ports 320-o, 320-i is radially aligned with the one ormore ports 132. As shown in FIGS. 2C-2D, the inner housing 130 isconfigured to enable the nicotine vaporizer assembly 400 to be insertedinto the conduit 188-a, 188-i, such that an outlet conduit 176-i of thenicotine vaporizer assembly 400 is in direct fluid communication withconduit 160-i, such that conduits 176-i, 160-i collectively define anoutlet conduit that extends from conduit 174 to an exterior of thereservoir assembly 114 and, via the outlet conduit 112-i and outlet 251,to an exterior of the nicotine vapor generator assembly 110. Theisolation structure 188 may rotate around longitudinal axis 201 toadjustably expose the one or more ports 320-o, 320-i to the reservoir119 via the one or more ports 132 based on adjustably radially aligningthe one or more ports 188-o with the one or more ports 132 and thus theone or more ports 320-o, 320-i.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an isolation structure according to someexample embodiments. FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view along lineIIC-IIC′ of the nicotine vapor generator assembly of FIGS. 2A-2Baccording to some example embodiments. FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional viewalong line IID-IID′ of the nicotine vapor generator assembly of FIGS.2A-2B according to some example embodiments. FIG. 5C is across-sectional perspective view along line VC-VC′ of the reservoirassembly of FIGS. 5A-5B according to some example embodiments. FIG. 6Ais a cross-sectional view of the nicotine vapor generator assembly ofFIGS. 2A-2B according to some example embodiments. FIG. 6B is across-sectional view of the nicotine vapor generator assembly of FIG. 6Aalong view line VIB-VIB′ according to some example embodiments.

As shown in FIGS. 5A-5C, the inner housing 130 includes projectionstructures 510 that extend partially around an inner surface 130-s ofthe inner housing 130 and are radially spaced apart to define one ormore longitudinal conduits 512, each longitudinal conduit 512 extendingcoaxially with longitudinal axis 201 between adjacent projectionstructures 510. As shown in FIG. 4 , the isolation structure 188 mayinclude a projection structure 490 that extends from the lower edge 492of the isolation structure 188, where the extension is coaxial with thelongitudinal axis 201. As shown, each projection structure 490 mayextend around a limited portion of the lower edge 492 of the isolationstructure 188. For example, in the illustrated example embodiments, eachprojection structure 490 extends about 90 degrees around thecircumference of the lower edge 492, and the two projection structures490 are offset by 90 degrees from each other, such that each projectionstructure 490 extends around ¼ of the lower edge 492 of the isolationstructure 188 and the two projection structures 490 collectively extendaround ½ of the lower edge 492 of the isolation structure 188.

As further shown in FIGS. 5A-5C, a bottom edge 492 of the isolationstructure 188 and top edges of the projection structures 510 maycollectively define one or more annular conduits 520. As further shown,the projection structures 510 may each include a longitudinal projectionstructure 514 that isolates separate annular conduits 520 from eachother.

Still referring to FIGS. 5A-5C, and further referring to at least FIG.6A, the annular conduit 520 defined by at least the inner housing 130and the isolation structure 188 may include an outer annular conduit520-o and an inner annular conduit 520-i, where the outer annularconduit 520-o is defined by the inner housing 130 and the projectionstructure 510, and the inner annular conduit 520-i, which is concentricwith the outer annular conduit 520-o, is defined by the lower edge 492of the isolation structure 188. The isolation structure 188 isconfigured to rotate around longitudinal axis 201 such that theinterlock projection structures 490 are restricted to moving through theinner annular conduit 520-i based on rotation of the isolation structure188 around the longitudinal axis 201.

In some example embodiments, the structures defining conduits 512 and520 (e.g., projection structures 510 and 514), may collectively define areservoir assembly connector assembly 550 of the reservoir assembly 114that is a channel bayonet connector and which is configured to engagewith a complementary plug bayonet connector of the nicotine vaporizerassembly 400 to couple the nicotine vaporizer assembly 400 with thereservoir assembly 114 in such a way so as to radially align one or moreports 320-i, 320-o with at least the ports 132 of the inner housing 130.The conduits 512 and 520 that are open to each other may be referred toherein as a connector conduit 555 that is defined by the reservoirassembly connector assembly 550.

FIG. 3E is a perspective view of an interlock structure according tosome example embodiments. The interlock structure 410 shown in FIG. 3Emay be the interlock structure 410 shown in FIGS. 3A-3D. The interlockstructure 410 may partially or entirely comprise a plug bayonetconnector of the nicotine vaporizer assembly 400 that is complementarywith the aforementioned channel bayonet connector of the reservoirassembly 114.

As shown in FIG. 3E, the interlock structure 410 may include a ringstructure 414 that is configured to extend around the outer housing 320of the nicotine vaporizer assembly 400. In some example embodiments, thering structure 414 is configured to be fixed in place in relation to theouter housing 320 and/or the conduit structure 186 (e.g., via adhesive,welding, one or more connectors, or the like). The interlock structure410 may further include a connector structure 412 that is configured toengage with the complementary channel bayonet connector of the reservoirassembly 114 (e.g., one or more conduits 512 and one or more conduits520) to couple the nicotine vaporizer assembly 400 with the reservoirassembly 114. As shown, the connector structure 412 may be a plugbayonet connector structure that is configured to engage with acorresponding, complementary bayonet connector structure of thereservoir assembly connector assembly 550. As shown, the connectorstructure 412 may be a plug structure that extends a distance 412-H awayfrom the ring structure 414 in a longitudinal direction, has a width412-W, has a depth 412-D, and projects a distance 412-P away from thering structure 414 in a radial direction. While the connector structure412 is shown in FIG. 3E to be a plug bayonet connector, it will beunderstood that example embodiments are not limited thereto, and theconnector structure 412 may be any type of connector, including achannel bayonet connector structure, a pin connector structure, athreaded connector structure, some combination thereof, or the like.

FIG. 7A is a perspective view of a reservoir assembly and a nicotinevaporizer assembly aligned with the longitudinal axis of the reservoirassembly according to some example embodiments. FIG. 7B is across-sectional view of the reservoir assembly and aligned nicotinevaporizer assembly of FIG. 7A along view line VIIB-VIIB′. FIG. 8A is aperspective view of a reservoir assembly and a nicotine vaporizerassembly inserted into the reservoir assembly according to some exampleembodiments. FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional perspective view along lineVIIIB-VIIIB′ of the reservoir assembly and nicotine vaporizer assemblyof FIG. 8A according to some example embodiments. FIG. 8C is across-sectional view along line VIIIC-VIIIC′ of the reservoir assemblyand nicotine vaporizer assembly of FIG. 8A according to some exampleembodiments. FIG. 8D is a cross-sectional view along line VIIID-VIIID′of the reservoir assembly and nicotine vaporizer assembly of FIG. 8Aaccording to some example embodiments. FIG. 9A is a perspective view ofa reservoir assembly and a nicotine vaporizer assembly locked into thereservoir assembly according to some example embodiments. FIG. 9B is across-sectional perspective view along line IXB-IXB′ of the reservoirassembly and nicotine vaporizer assembly of FIG. 9A according to someexample embodiments. FIG. 9C is a cross-sectional view along lineIXC-IXC′ of the reservoir assembly and nicotine vaporizer assembly ofFIG. 9A according to some example embodiments. FIG. 9D is across-sectional view along line IXD-IXD′ of the reservoir assembly andnicotine vaporizer assembly of FIG. 9A according to some exampleembodiments. FIG. 9E is a cross-sectional view along line IXE-IXE′ ofthe reservoir assembly and nicotine vaporizer assembly of FIG. 9Aaccording to some example embodiments.

Referring now to at least FIGS. 6A-9E, when the nicotine vaporizerassembly 400 is inserted into the reservoir assembly 114 to at leastpartially occupy the conduits 188-i and 188-a, the interlock structure410 may be configured to establish a bayonet connection between thenicotine vaporizer assembly 400 and the reservoir assembly 114 based oninteraction between the interlock structure 410 and the conduits 512,520 of the reservoir assembly connector assembly 550. As shown in FIGS.6A-8C, the nicotine vaporizer assembly 400 may be inserted intoreservoir assembly 114, through connector assembly 142 and into theconduits 188-i, 188-a, where the connector structures 412 are radiallyaligned with separate respective conduits 512 of the connector assembly550, such that the projector structures 412 move, coaxially in relationto the longitudinal axis 201, through the separate, respective conduits512 and into separate respective conduits 520 as the nicotine vaporizerassembly 400 is inserted into the conduits 188-i, 188-a.

As shown in FIGS. 8A-9E, once the nicotine vaporizer assembly 400 isinserted longitudinally into the reservoir assembly 114 such that theconnector structures 412 are inserted longitudinally into separate,respective conduits 520 via conduits 512, the nicotine vaporizerassembly 400 may be rotated around the longitudinal axis 201 (which maybe aligned with longitudinal axis 401 to be the same longitudinal axisbased on the nicotine vaporizer assembly 440 being inserted into thereservoir assembly 114) such that the connector structures 412 move inseparate, respective arcs around longitudinal axis 201 and throughseparate, respective conduits 520 to impinge upon separate, respectivestructures 514 that restrict further motion of the projector structures412 away from the respective conduits 512 that are directly open to therespective conduits 520 in which the connector structure 412 arelocated. Such motion of the connector structure 412 to impinge uponseparate, respective structure 514 may correspond with the nicotinevaporizer assembly 400 being rotated around longitudinal axis 201 toradially align one or more sets of ports 320-o, 320-i with ports 132.

As shown in at least FIGS. 6A-6B, the projector structures 412 eachinclude an inner portion 412-i that is longitudinally aligned with thering structure 414 and an outer portion 412-o that projects radiallyfrom the ring structure 414. Referring back to FIGS. 7A-9E, theconnector structure 412 is configured to be inserted into a conduit 520,and move therethrough, such that the inner portion 412-i is in the innerannular conduit 520-i of the given conduit 520 and the outer portion412-o is in the outer annular conduit 520-o of the given channel.Furthermore, the connector structure 412 may be configured such that theouter portion 412-o is confined to moving through the outer annularconduit 520-o and the inner portion 412-i is confined to moving throughthe inner annular conduit 520-i when the connector structure 412 ismoving through a conduit 520.

As further shown in FIGS. 8A-9E, the nicotine vapor generator assembly110 is configured to enable the isolation structure 188 to rotate aroundthe longitudinal axis 201 such that the projection structure 490 movesthrough the inner annular conduit 520-i to selectively obstruct theinner annular conduit 520-i between a structure 514 and a conduit 512,to isolate at least the inner portion 412-i of the connector structure412, that is impinging upon the structure 514, from the conduit 512. Asa result, the projection structure 490 may restricting at least aportion of the interlock structure 410 (e.g., inner portion 412-i) frombeing disengaged from the bayonet connection defined by conduits 512,520, based on at least a conduit and/or series of conduits through whichat least a portion 412-i of the interlock structure 410 may move todisengage the nicotine vaporizer assembly 400 from the reservoirassembly 114 being obstructed by the projection structure 490.

As shown in at least FIGS. 8A-9E, the isolation structure 188 isconfigured to expose at least inner annular conduit 520-i to a conduit512 based on the isolation structure 188 being in a position thatradially mis-aligns one or more ports 188-o with one or more ports 132to isolate the barrel conduit 188-a from the one or more ports 132.Accordingly, the reservoir assembly 114 may be configured to enable anicotine vaporizer assembly 400 to be removably coupled with thereservoir assembly 114, via engagement of the interlock structure 410and the connector assembly 550 to cause one or more connector structure412 to move through one or more sets of conduits 512, 520 to impingeupon a structure 514, based on the isolation structure 188 being in afirst position in which the isolation structure 188 isolates thereservoir 119 from the nicotine vaporizer assembly 400 and in which theisolation structure 188 does not isolate conduits 520, 512 from eachother to enable the nicotine vaporizer assembly 400 to be insertedlongitudinally into the reservoir assembly 114 and rotated around thelongitudinal axis 201 such that the connector structure 412 of theinterlock structure 410 of the nicotine vaporizer assembly 440 movesthrough a conduit 512 and a conduit 520 that is open to the conduit 512to impinge upon a structure 514, such that one or more ports 320-o,320-i of the nicotine vaporizer assembly 400 are radially aligned withthe one or more ports 132 when the one or more projector structures 412are impinging upon separate, respective structures 514.

As further shown in FIGS. 8A-9E, the reservoir assembly 114 may beconfigured to enable a nicotine vaporizer assembly 400 to be restrictedfrom being decoupled from the reservoir assembly 114 based on theisolation structure 188 being in a second position in which theisolation structure 188 radially aligns the one or more ports 188-othereof with the one or more ports 132 of the inner housing 130 and theone or more ports 320-o, 320-i of the nicotine vaporizer assembly 400such that the isolation structure 188 exposes the nicotine vaporizerassembly 400 to the reservoir 119 and in which the isolation structure188 also obstructs a portion of the inner annular conduit 520-i that isbetween the connector structure 412 (impinging on structure 514) and theconduit 512, thereby restricting the connector structure 412 from beingmoved through the conduit 520 to the conduit 512 and therethrough to anexterior of the reservoir assembly 114, thereby restricting theinterlock structure 410 from disengaging from the reservoir assembly 114when the conduit 188-a, and thus the nicotine vaporizer assembly 400held therein, is exposed to the reservoir 119 via the one or more ports188-o and radially aligned one or more ports 132.

Accordingly, the isolation structure 188 may be configured to partiallyor entirely mitigate leaking of nicotine pre-vapor formulation fromreservoir 119 to an exterior of the reservoir assembly 114 in theabsence of nicotine vaporizer assembly 400 being coupled to thereservoir assembly 114, as the isolation structure 188 is configured toisolate the reservoir 119 from the space 188-a in which the nicotinevaporizer assembly 400 is configured to be inserted based on being in afirst position that is configured to enable the nicotine vaporizerassembly 400 to be removable engaged with the reservoir assembly 114 andis configured to expose the reservoir 119 with the nicotine vaporizerassembly 400 based on the isolation structure 188 being in a secondposition that is configured to restrict the nicotine vaporizer assembly400 from being disengaged from the reservoir assembly 114 based on theisolation structure 188 isolating a portion of conduits 520 fromadjacent conduits 512 to restrict the nicotine vaporizer assembly 400from being rotated around the longitudinal axis 201, based onrestricting the connector structure 412 of the interlock structure 410of the nicotine vaporizer assembly 400 that are impinged upon structures514 from moving through respective channels (obstructed by respectiveinterlock structures 491 of the isolation structure 188) to respectiveconduits 512.

In view of the above, it will be understood that the reservoir assemblyconnector assembly 550 may be configured to detachably couple with thenicotine vaporizer assembly 400 to establish fluid communication betweenthe nicotine vaporizer assembly 400 and a reservoir defined by thereservoir assembly 114 based on a connector element of the nicotinevaporizer assembly 400 engaging with the connector conduit 555 of thenicotine vaporizer connector assembly, where the connector element maybe at least the connector structure 412 of the interlock structure 410of the nicotine vaporizer assembly 400. It will further be understoodthat the reservoir assembly 114 may include an isolation structure 188configured to move, in relation to both the reservoir assembly 114 andthe reservoir assembly connector assembly 550, between a first position,shown in FIGS. 9A-9E, where the isolation structure 188 exposes thenicotine vaporizer assembly 400 to the reservoir 119 and at leastpartially obstructs the connector conduit, defined by at least oneconduit 512 and a conduit 520 that is open to the at least one conduit512, to restrict the connector element from disengaging from theconnector conduit 520, and a second position, shown in FIGS. 8A-8C,where the isolation structure 188 isolates the nicotine vaporizerassembly 400 from the reservoir 119 and opens the connector conduit 555to enable the connector element to disengage from the connector conduit555.

As shown in FIGS. 8A-9E, the reservoir assembly 114 may include a firstfluid port, port 132 extending through an inner housing 130 of thereservoir assembly 114, the isolation structure 188 may be configured toexpose the reservoir 119 to the nicotine vaporizer assembly 400 via thefirst fluid port 132 based on moving to the first position, and theisolation structure 188 may be further configured to cover the firstfluid port 132 and thus isolate the nicotine vaporizer assembly 400 fromthe reservoir 119 based on moving to the second position. It will alsobe understood that, in some example embodiments, the inner housing 130may be omitted from the reservoir assembly 114, such that the firstfluid port 132 is also omitted.

As shown in at least FIGS. 2C-2D, the reservoir assembly 114 may includea second fluid port 150-i that is configured to enable fluidcommunication between the reservoir 119 and an exterior of the nicotinevapor generator assembly 110, the isolation structure 188 may beconfigured to cover the second fluid port 150-i to isolate the reservoir119 from the exterior of the nicotine vapor generator assembly 110 basedon moving to the first position, the isolation structure 188 may befurther configured to expose the second port 150-i to expose thereservoir 119 to the exterior of the nicotine vapor generator assembly110 based on moving to the second position, and the reservoir assembly114 may be configured to be refilled through the second fluid port 150-ibased on the isolation structure 188 being in the second position.

In some example embodiments, the isolation structure 188 may beconfigured to move in relation to both the reservoir assembly 114 andthe reservoir assembly connector assembly 550 to a third position wherethe isolation structure covers both the first fluid port and the secondfluid port, and the isolation structure 188 may be configured to openthe connector conduit 555 to enable the connector element to disengagefrom the connector conduit 555 based on the isolation structure 188moving to the third position.

In some example embodiments, the isolation structure 188 may include athird fluid port 188-o configured to at least partially align with thefirst fluid port 132 for the isolation structure 188 to expose the firstfluid port 132 based on the isolation structure 188 moving to the firstposition.

It will also be understood that, in some example embodiments, the secondfluid port 150-i, the coupling structure 160, the third fluid port160-i, and/or the port adjustment ring 116 may be omitted from thereservoir assembly 114.

As shown in FIGS. 5A-5B, the reservoir assembly connector assembly 550may be a bayonet connector that is configured to establish a bayonetinterface connection with a bayonet connector, such as interlockstructure 410, of the nicotine vaporizer assembly 400. But, in someexample embodiments, the reservoir assembly connector assembly 550 maybe configured to establish a different connection with the nicotinevaporizer assembly 400, including a threaded connection.

As shown in FIGS. 7A-9E, the isolation structure 188 may be configuredto rotate around longitudinal axis 201 to move between the firstposition and the second position.

While a number of example embodiments have been disclosed herein, itshould be understood that other variations may be possible. Suchvariations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit andscope of the present disclosure, and all such modifications as would beobvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within thescope of the following claims.

We claim:
 1. An assembly for a nicotine e-vaping device, the assemblycomprising: a housing including a first fluid port extending through thehousing, the housing having an inner surface at least partially defininga barrel conduit; a connector assembly defining a connector conduit, theconnector assembly configured to detachably couple with a nicotinevaporizer assembly based on a connector element of the nicotinevaporizer assembly engaging with the connector conduit; and an isolationstructure at least partially located within the barrel conduit, theisolation structure at least partially defining an internal conduitconfigured to at least partially receive the nicotine vaporizer assemblybased on the connector element of the nicotine vaporizer assemblyengaging with the connector conduit, the isolation structure configuredto move in relation to both the housing and the connector assemblybetween a first position where the isolation structure exposes theinternal conduit to the first fluid port and at least partiallyobstructs the connector conduit, and a second position where theisolation structure isolates the internal conduit from the first fluidport and opens the connector conduit.
 2. The assembly of claim 1,wherein the isolation structure includes a second fluid port configuredto at least partially align with the first fluid port to expose theinternal conduit to the first fluid port via the second fluid port basedon the isolation structure moving to the first position.
 3. The assemblyof claim 1, wherein an outer surface of the housing at least partiallydefines a reservoir, the first fluid port configured to enable fluidcommunication between the barrel conduit and the reservoir.
 4. Theassembly of claim 3, wherein the assembly includes a third fluid port,the third fluid port configured to enable fluid communication betweenthe reservoir and an exterior of the assembly, the isolation structureis configured to cover the third fluid port to isolate the reservoirfrom the exterior of the assembly based on moving to the first position,the isolation structure is further configured to expose the third fluidport to expose the reservoir to the exterior of the assembly based onmoving to the second position, and the assembly is configured to enablethe reservoir to be refilled through the third fluid port based on theisolation structure being in the second position.
 5. The assembly ofclaim 4, wherein the isolation structure is further configured to movein relation to both the housing and the connector assembly to a thirdposition where the isolation structure covers both the first fluid portand the third fluid port, and the isolation structure is configured toopen the connector conduit based on the isolation structure moving tothe third position.
 6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the connectorassembly is a bayonet connector that is configured to establish abayonet interface connection with a bayonet connector of the nicotinevaporizer assembly.
 7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the isolationstructure is configured to rotate around a longitudinal axis of theisolation structure to move between the first position and the secondposition.
 8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the isolation structure isconfigured to move axially along a longitudinal axis of the isolationstructure to move between the first position and the second position. 9.A nicotine vapor generator assembly, comprising: the assembly of claim3; and a nicotine vaporizer assembly configured detachably couple withthe assembly such that the nicotine vaporizer assembly is at leastpartially within the internal conduit of the assembly based on aconnector element of the nicotine vaporizer assembly engaging with theconnector conduit of the assembly, the nicotine vaporizer assemblyconfigured to vaporize nicotine pre-vapor formulation held in thereservoir at least partially defined by the housing of the assemblybased on the isolation structure exposing the internal conduit to thefirst fluid port.
 10. A nicotine e-vaping device, comprising: thenicotine vapor generator assembly of claim 9; and a power supplyassembly coupled to the nicotine vapor generator assembly, the powersupply assembly including a power supply, the power supply assemblyconfigured to supply electrical power from the power supply to thenicotine vaporizer assembly.
 11. The nicotine e-vaping device of claim10, wherein the power supply is a rechargeable battery.
 12. The nicotinee-vaping device of claim 10, wherein the power supply assembly isconfigured to decouple from the nicotine vapor generator assembly.